9 Filipino seafarers arrested in US deported back to the Philippines

9 Filipino seafarers arrested in US deported back to the Philippines
DAVE LLAVANES JR. August 27, 2026 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/1000016/9-filipino-...

NEW YORK — Nine Filipino seafarers who were arrested by US Customs and Border Protection over the weekend have already been deported to the Philippines.

According to Labor Attaché Saul de Vries of the Migrant Workers Office of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., the nine Filipinos were immediately sent home after they were arrested by federal agents aboard cruise ships docked at the Port of Boston.

In a message to GMA News, De Vries said Philippine officials did not have an opportunity to meet with the arrested seafarers because they were already deported from the United States by the time authorities were notified.

"The seafarers were already removed from the US when we received the CBP notification of their arrest from PCG-New York," De Vries said in a text message.
He said they had recommended to the Department of Migrant Workers that the affected seafarers be provided with financial assistance.

"We are recommending that they be provided with financial assistance by the DMW through the AKSYON Fund," he said.

The arrests of the nine Filipino seafarers were part of the US Department of Homeland Security's "Operation Tidal Wave," carried out by Customs and Border Protection.

The operation targets cruise ship seafarers entering the United States who are suspected of violating US laws.

De Vries advised Filipino seafarers whose routes include the United States to exercise caution when visiting websites and to make sure that no prohibited or illegal material is stored in their electronic devices.

"Our advice to our seafarers has always been to refrain from accessing online child sexual abuse material/child pornography and passing them to others. They should also check their electronic gadgets for any prohibited materials that may have been stored or saved in these gadgets. It would also be good if they could check their past online activities that may have exposed them to prohibited online materials," De Vries said.

He added that if seafarers are arrested or taken into custody by law enforcement or immigration authorities, they should immediately ask the arresting officers to notify the nearest Philippine consulate.

"If they are taken into custody by law enforcement or immigration authorities, the seafarers should inform their arresting officers to notify the nearest Philippine consulate," De Vries added. — VDV, GMA News